Joe Jonas has got fans of Wetherspoons up in arms after revealing he has been to the budget pub chain and didn’t like it one bit.
Speaking on Heart Breakfast on Wednesday, the American singer-songwriter surprised radio hosts Zoe Hardman and Jamie Theakston at first by revealing that he’d even stepped foot inside one of the pub giant’s boozers.
Asked to explain the US chain Waffle Housen to listeners, he then compared it to Wetherspoons or ‘another all-day breakfast restaurant’.
Clearly shocked, Jamie couldn’t believe what he was hearing and said: “I’m going to pull you up there. You’ve never been to a Wetherspoons!” before Zoe asked Joe: “What did you think of it?”
The Jonas Brothers star then pointedly replied: “I have been to Wetherspoons!
ADVERTISEMENT
“Um. I liked other places. Let’s just say it wouldn’t be my first go-to.”
The hitmaker had been explaining how, when he and his brothers were first touring, they were too young to go and have a pint after the show so would instead go to a late-night waffle house to talk.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said: “For us growing up when we were touring in the States, we were too young to go and have a pint after the show and kick it with our friends.
“So we would go to the only place open late, which was a waffle house, where they serve breakfast items all day and we would sit there and talk.
“It became more of this safe place for us, so there’s other places like that for anyone in the world.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Read more:
It appears that Joe Jonas isn’t the only person who’s off Wetherspoons lately, either, with the boozer recently announcing it was selling up a host of pubs across the UK to cover its losses.
In September last year, the company began listing sites for sale with 32 boozers going up as part of what it described as a “commercial decision”.
This January, it listed even more – with arch-Brexiteer Wetherspoons boss Tim Martin apparently blaming people ‘drinking at home’ for the closures.
After the chain suffered a £30 million pound loss, CEO Tim Martin told PA news agency that people ‘have got into the habit of staying in’ ever since Covid and that that was why sales were down on 2019.
ADVERTISEMENT
He also blamed lockdown restrictions brought in to stop the spread of Covid during the height of the pandemic for the pub’s losses.
Read more:
He said: “The aftermath of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions have been far more difficult than anyone thought.
“That is the picture for the whole pub and restaurant industry. People thought that after lockdown there would be a boom in people suffering from cabin fever but, instead, it has almost become the opposite situation as people have got into the habit of staying in.”
Featured image – Joe Jonas
Food & Drink
London attraction The Curling Club is now expanding into Manchester
Thomas Melia
Well-reviewed winter attraction The Curling Club, which has already made a name for itself in London, is now making its way to Manchester.
Set to open in Manchester’s world-class skyscraper district, New Jackson, The Curling Club is keeping its stay short and sweet, with a three-month residency here in the city centre.
Curling Club will signal in the mid-winter season as it runs from late November right through until the end of February, giving you a lengthy period of time to sweep ’til your heart’s content.
This sports-themed pop-up opened in the capital last year, offering guests a wintery escape packed with food and drink choices, accommodating up to 600 people at a time, right next to The Shard.
The Curling Club is set to open in Manchester this November until February.Imagine a pint or two in this curling haven in Manchester this year.Credit: Justin De Souza
Now, Manchester’s latest activity bar destination is bringing its charm and competitiveness to Manchester for the first time ever, hoping to emulate the success of its capital predecessor while encouraging people to pick up the sport.
Just like the original London location, their Manc site will feature the iconic custom-built lanes and sustainably-made granite stones, which are set to improve your precision and control – fancy that.
We’re sure will still somehow manage to be the worst players in the room at any given time.
If that wasn’t enough curling expertise for you, there will also be on-site coaches helping guests perfect their technique and providing some top-notch advice.
There will even be an exclusive appearance from Olympic gold medallist Eve Muirhead and Team GB’s ‘Chef de Mission’, Mark England, who will be hosting select events across the two cities.
Manchester can expect a similar curling set-up this year.The glitter-ball dancers ready and waiting for this wintertime.Credit: Justin De Souza
New Jackson will be the ultimate backdrop for this innovative winter experience as the venue will be curating seasonal cocktails as well as being home to live DJS, glitter-ball dancers and some seriously good food.
You had us at booze and scran.
Keep this seasonal site in mind as they’re already marking themselves as a destination for work parties, events, group outings and Christmas party celebrations.
Trevor Bowers, Chairman of The Curling Club, said of the impending opening: “With this expansion and other plans, we’re accelerating our national rollout – all while staying focused on delivering exceptional, high-quality experiences for both guests and corporate clients during the winter season.”
Milk Maids, Bolton – The family-run ice cream parlour on an award-winning farm
Daisy Jackson
Ice cream doesn’t come much fresher than those served at Milk Maids – in fact, you’ll be standing right on the family farm where the cows that produce the milk live, as you tuck into your scoop.
This unassuming dairy farm in Bolton has been in operation for decades, and in the same family for generations.
But it’s when sisters Fiona and Rebecca saw the full potential of all that award-winning milk being produced on their farm that Milk Maids was born.
This ice cream parlour on Dearden’s Farm in Over Hulton is now one of the hottest spots in Greater Manchester, especially when the weather is similarly hot.
Every month they release a whole batch of flavours, all made fresh daily (you can literally see Fiona legging it across the yard with buckets of milk to make fresh batches), with May specials including white chocolate and sea salt caramel, raspberry cookie, and passionfruit pavlova.
Milk Maids, Bolton – The family-run ice cream parlour on an award-winning farm
Cones can be filled with molten chocolate or pistachio creme before your ice cream is scooped and pressed into the cone.
Or you can have your chosen flavour whizzed up into a milkshake, served in a milk bun, or presented in an insulated take-home box for later.
We could wax lyrical about how good this ice cream is, but the queues really do speak for themselves, and you should go and get in it right now.
Georgina Pellant -
13th April 2023 
